Suction cleaner



Feb. 29, 1944. A. M, HARLET'T 2,343,056

SUCTIQN CLEANER I Filed Nov. v19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I k 'ATTDRNEYE Feb. 29, 1944. I A. M. HARLETT 2,343,056

SUCTION CLEANER Fil ed Nov. 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 the cleaner.

Patented Feb. 29, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT 4 OFFICE SUCTION CLEANERArthur M. Harlett. Tiflln, Ohio Application November 1 Y ZCIaims.(oils-156) My invention relates to cleaning apparatus, and has among itsobjects and advantages the provision of an improved suction cleaner ofthe portable electric type which may be selectively used for cleaningfloors, draperies, walls and the like.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevational view.

. Figure 2 is a side view having a portionbroken away.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the carriage part of Figure 4 is a sectionalview along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

' Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-! of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 'l is a view showing a detachable connection between the handleof the carriage and the flexible hose which maybe provided with suitabletools mr cleaning walls, draperies and the like, and I Figure 8 is anend view of a cleaner body or tank cleaner.

In the embodiment oi the invention selected for illustration, I make useof a carriage ll provided with a hood l2 which constitutes a suctionnozzle and brush .chamber. Two arms l4 are attached to the hood l2.andcarry adjustable supporting wheels ii for holding the mouth end of thehood at predetermined distances from the floor. A rotary brush I8 islocated in the hood I! and is supported in bearings 28 attached to theend walls oi the hood.

Two ducts 22 have communication with the hood l2 and with tubularbearings 24 fixed to the ends of the ducts 22 remote from the hood 12.The two ducts are arranged at right angles to the hood i2, and thebearings 24 are coaxial at right angles to the ducts. These parts maycomprise a one piece casting, and the hood and the ducts function as aframe for supporting a motor 28 for driving the brush I8 only.

The shaft 28 of the motor 28 projects through an opening 88 in one ofthe ducts 22 and carries a pulley l2 inside that duct for driving a belt34 passing around the cylindrical body 36 of the brush l8 to impartrotation to the brush. A pin 38 is fixed to the motor 28 for projectionthrough an opening in a bowed spring 40 having its ends supported on oneof the ducts 22. The pulley 82 may be passed through the opening 30, aswhen the motor is pressed against the bowed spring 48 when placing orremoving the'motor with re- 9, 1942, Serial No. 466,178

spect to its supporting frame. The opening 88 is closed by one end ofthe motor 26, the motor being pressed firmly against that duct..

A duct 42 is fixedly mounted in the bearings 24 and is provided withports 44 respectively communicating with the ducts 22. Plugs 46 arethreaded into the outer ends of the bearings 24 and into engagement withthe duct 42 to seal the ends of the duct. The duct 42 is circular incross section.

Upon the duct 42 and adjacent the inner ends of the bearings 24 aremounted two inner bearing races 48, between which and their respectiveouter races 58 are mounted needle roller bearings 52. Rubber treads 54are attached to the outer bearing races 58.

A pivot tube 58 is rotatably mounted upon the duct 42 and is restrainedfrom relative endwise movement through its engagement with the innerbearing races 48. One end of a tubular handle 58 is fixed to the pivottube 88 and has communication with the duct 42 through the medium of aport 60 in the duct 42.

Upon the handle 58 is detachably mounted a cleaner. body 82, commonlyknown as a tank cleaner. Such cleaner bodies are old and well known inthe art. Suflice it to say that the cleaner body usually comprises ahousing cont aining a power plant (a motor and a fan driven thereby) forproducing suction at one end and discharging air under pressure at theother.

To one end oi the body 82 is connected a suction hose 64 which, forfloor cleaning purposes, has its free end inserted in the handle 58 downto the pivot tube 56. This hose may be withdrawn from the handle forconnection with wall and drapery cleaning tools and the like. Anairtight connection is provided between the hose and the handle by asealing flange 88 on the hose for engaging theend of the handle. Aflanged nut 68 is threaded on the handle to press the flange 88 into airsealing engagement with the handle. Thus the handle 58 serves as a placeof storage for the hose 84.

An eye III is attached to the body 62 and normally engages over a hookI2 attached to the handle 58. Near the lower end of the body 82 isattached a spring clip 14 to releasably engage over the handle. Themotor 26 is placed between the ducts 22 of its supporting frame toprovide a relatively low carriage, so that the carriage passes easilyunder furniture, as when the body 62 is removed vi'rom the handle.

The suction cleaner is relatively compact and requires a small storagespace. This cleaner also spaced ducts extending transversely from thenozzle; a tubular bearing having communicative connection with each ductand disposed transversely thereof, the outer end of each bearing beingclosed, a tubular inner duct having its ends fitted in the bearings, thesaid inner duct being provided with side openings adjacent the endsregistering with the spaced ducts and a center opening, and a tubularhandle having communicative connection with the center opening in thesaid inner duct. I

2. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a pair of spaced ducts extendingtransversely from the nozzle, a tubular bearing having communicativeconnection with each duct and disposed transversely thereof, the outerend of each bearing being closed, a tubular inner duct having its endsfitted in the bearings, the said inner duct being provided with sideopenings adjacent the ends registering with the spaced ducts and acenter opening, a pivot tube mounted to turn upon the intermediateportion of the inner duct, roller means mounted on the inner ductbetween the end bearings and the pivot tube, and a tubular handleconnecting with an opening in the pivot tube in registration with thecenter opening in the inner duct. I

